Flexible sealing coupling



H. E. FRITZ FLEXIBLE SEALING COUPLING Feb. 20, 1934.

Filed Sept. 17, 1932 j? J/ v J7 J7 if?? *W Patented Feb. `zo, 19a'4 1,948,211 y UNITED STATES PATTI-:NT OFFICE".

' FLEXIBLE SEALING COUPLING Q Howard E. Fritz, Akron, Ohio, assigner to The y B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a l corporation of New York Application September 17, 1932 Serial No. 633,579

s claims. (o1. zas-p) This invention relates to flexible sealing coulatter may be the more effective to cushion vibraplings for conduit sections. tions in all directions.

The chief objects of the invention are to prby The rubber 15 is preferably secured to the plate vide compactness and strength of the coupling' elements by surface adhesion, preferably vull structure, to provide convenience of assembly, to canized adhesion, by which a joint of considerable 60 provide a conduit coupling that will effectively resistance to separation may be provided, especushionyibration, such as is caused by ow pulsacially with ample radial dimensions of the plate tions of the conducted uid'or by vibrating ma- ,surfaces and rubber, which is permitted by the Y chinery, to provide yieldability of the couplingfor construction'herein described, Without constric-- expansion or contraction of the conduit section tion of the fluid passage and without undue bulk 6 5,

due to temperature changes, and to provide in of the coupling. i

' such a coupling a good uid seal, a minimum of The sealing structure, including the rubbereleresistance to flow, and effective protection against ments 15 and 16, the plates 14`and the bolts 17, corrosion and abrasion. may be manufactured and handled as a unit struc- These and further objects will be apparent ture, and the operations of assembly and disas- 70 from the following description, reference being sembly with the flanged coupling sections may had to the accompanying drawing, in'which the thus be effected with convenience. figure is an elevation, with parts broken away Variations maybe resorted to without departand sectioned, of a pair of conduit sections joined ing from the scope of the invention as it-iS defined by a coupling constructed according to and emin the following claims: f

bodying the invention in its preferred form.` I claim; P

The illustrated structure comprises two pipe 1. A flexible coupling assembly comprising, in sections 10, 10 provided with end flanges 11, 11 combination, a pair of conduit sections, a cushand, desirably, corrosion resisting linings 12, 12 0f ioning structure comprising an annular cushion"A rubber composition. having end portions 13, 13v ving body disposed between the opposed ends of 80 extending onto the ange faces. Interposed besaid sections, a pair of axially spaced annular tween the two lining portions 13, 13 of the respecmembers secured at their opposed faces in tensiontive conduit flanges isr a flexible sealing structure resisting relation to said cushioning body, sealing comprising a pairof annular plate elements 14, 1 elements Idisposed between theannular members 14 held in axially spaced relation by an annular 'and the respective conduit sections, and means for body of yieldable material 15. The material 15, securing the members axially lagainst the sealing preferably of resilient, rubber composition, exelements at -the'respective ends ,of the conduit tends over the inner peripheries of the annular sections in sealing relation thereto, said securing plates 14, 14 and onto their outer faces at 16, 16 means permitting ythe said body to cushion relato provide a smooth interior of the coupling ush tive movement 'of the sections. I y 90 with the inner Walls ofl the 'conduit linings, to 2. A coupling assembly as defined in claim` 1in provide a good seal at the linings 13, 13 of thel which the annular cushioning body is of resilient conduit flanges, and to prevent contact of the rubber composition andis vulcanized to theV said fiuid with any of the metallic parts. members. A d

40 For securing the sealing structure to the con- 3.*A coupling assembly as defined in claim 1 in 95 duit flanges in sealing relation. thereto without, which the means for securing the members to the however, hampering the material 15 in its funcconduit sections comprises peripherally spaced tion of cushioning vibrations and other relatiye elements extending axially from the members for movements of the conduit sections, clampingA de! engagement with their-respective sections.

452 ViCeS are Provided comprising preferably Periph- 4. A flexible coupling assembly comprising, in erally spaced bOltS 17, 17 extending through f combination, a pair of conduit sections, a pair`of" aligned apertures in each plate 14 and adjacent axially spaced annular members disposed between COIldllit ange and being effective, aS'bY means 0f the opposed ends of said sections, an annular nuts as shown, to clamp the rubber elements 16` rubber cushion disposed between said members and 13 between the plateand COUPlIlg fiallgband secured thereto, the rubber of the lcushion lThe bolts 17 may be in the form of studs threaded eI ending over the inner peripheries and onto the into the plates 14, as shown, for facility of manu- `o er faces of the members, and means for facture, and the studs are preferably welded to. clamping the members to the respective sections the plates with but 'a small part, if any, of the with the rubber on the outer faces of the members '55 studs lying within the cushion 1,15, so that'the heldin sealing relation therebetween. 110

cushion extending over the inner peripheries and onto the outer faces of said members, and means for clamping the members to the respective sections'with the lining of each flange and the rubber on the outer face of each member held in sealing relation between the member and ange.

,HOWARD E. FRITZ. 

